Letters, April 10: Historical perspectives on U.S. freedom

File - In this picture taken July 4, 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, left, shakes hands with ANC deputy leader Nelson Mandela inside 10 Downing Street, London, prior to talks and a luncheon. Nineteen years after the end of apartheid, South Africans are still passionately divided over whether Margaret Thatcher helped or hindered the demise of the cruel system of white rule and prolonged the jailing of Nelson Mandela.The heated discussions triggered by Thatcher's death show how influential South Africans believe she was on the fate of the last bastion of white-minority rule in Africa. (Martin Cleaver, Associated Press) MARTIN CLEAVER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUENA PARK, Margaret Morell: "Keep your God, and everything your God stands for, off of our government property," says Rob Macfarlane ["Government and God," Letters, April 5]. He says he is not a Christian and doesn't want religion forced down his throat.

File - In this picture taken July 4, 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, left, shakes hands with ANC deputy leader Nelson Mandela inside 10 Downing Street, London, prior to talks and a luncheon. Nineteen years after the end of apartheid, South Africans are still passionately divided over whether Margaret Thatcher helped or hindered the demise of the cruel system of white rule and prolonged the jailing of Nelson Mandela.The heated discussions triggered by Thatcher's death show how influential South Africans believe she was on the fate of the last bastion of white-minority rule in Africa. (Martin Cleaver, Associated Press)

Unfortunately, removing God from government property doesn't seem possible. Christians settled our part of North America, and Christians were involved in writing our founding documents. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution both may be considered property, as "government documents" The Declaration says that men are endowed "by their creator with certain unalienable rights."

The Constitution offers us the First Amendment, which reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The Christians who were responsible for these two related concepts were familiar with limitations put on them and their forebears by kings who didn't merely hang a list of commandments on the castle walls but dictated how believers could and could not run their worship services. They left their country to find freedom of religion. I realize that some people think that the First Amendment constitutes a "separation of church and state," but it does not say so.

A display of such bitter anger against those with whom one disagrees amazes me. These Christians did so much to make Macfarlane's choices free from government dictates regarding what he must do and believe.

An extraordinary life

FULLERTON, James Fabera: I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The "Iron Lady" was one of the greatest leaders of the 1980s – along with Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan. These were all giants who stood tall against the "evil empire" and communism and helped bring about its downfall, something I never thought would occur in my lifetime.

The world is a better place because of these extraordinary leaders, and we should all be eternally grateful for their leadership during difficult times.

Beholden to gun lobby

TUSTIN, Bob Machado: So, 14 senators decided to filibuster the bill to require background checks on gun purchases. It is a shame that these 14 Republican senators refuse even to allow discussion and a vote on the bill. Their main argument and the gun lobby's position says that these background checks would not prevent mass killings.

These senators know this argument is a canard. This position has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. It has everything to do with re-election prospects and that they are beholden to gun manufacturers and not to the majority of Americans they represent who want an expansion of background checks.

Foie gras is foul

SANTA ANA, David Alvarez: I always look forward to the Wednesday Food section.

However, I was recently disappointed and disgusted by the full-page photo and articles about O.C. chefs who continue to sell foie gras in defiance of the state ban ["Facing off over foie gras," April 3]. Foie gras production cruelly inflicts misery upon animals. Shoving a tube down the throats and into the stomachs of ducks and geese to force feed them immense amounts of food so that they develop grotesquely abnormal and painfully oversized fatty livers is undeniably inhumane.

So cruel, the state of California enacted legislation to ban its sale. I suppose a few arrogant chefs will do whatever they want until forced into compliance.

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